- Asks minister to apologize to Tinubu, Armed Forces, affected officer
A former Chief of Army Staff (CoAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai (rtd.), has described the altercation between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and a naval officer in Abuja as “a clear and present danger to national security,” calling for immediate corrective measures.
In a statement posted on his verified Facebook page, Buratai said Wike’s behaviour during the confrontation “goes beyond misconduct” and “undermines both the authority of the Commander-in-Chief and the dignity of the Armed Forces.”
The clash, which took place at Plot 1946, Gaduwa District, Abuja, reportedly arose from a dispute over the ownership and development of land linked to a former Chief of Naval Staff. Wike, who visited the site with officials of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), accused those behind the project of carrying out illegal construction.
A viral video of the incident shows Wike questioning a naval officer allegedly overseeing the site, asserting that no individual, regardless of rank or position, was above the law. The officer, whose name has not been disclosed, maintained that the property was legally owned and protected under military authorisation.
Reacting to the exchange, Buratai said the minister’s tone and actions during the confrontation amounted to “reckless indiscipline” and a public affront on Nigeria’s military command structure.
“A minister’s verbal assault on a military officer in uniform is not political theatre; it is a reckless act that endangers national order,” Buratai said. “It strikes at the very foundation of discipline and respect that holds the Armed Forces together.”
He warned that such behaviour could weaken morale within the military and create the impression of civilian disregard for institutional hierarchy.
“This action by Wike is a direct affront to the authority of the Commander-in-Chief and a demoralising signal to officers serving the nation,” the retired general added.
Buratai urged President Bola Tinubu to treat the matter as a national security issue, insisting that the minister should apologize to the president, the Armed Forces, and the officer involved.
“The integrity of our military institutions must be preserved. Our national security should never be subjected to the politics of public confrontation or military bashing,” he stated.